Chapter 335: If you die, I'll join you.
Yang Haoran thought his words and actions would anger the slovenly man, who would then loudly accuse him—accuse him, an Underworld Official, of actually supporting a man-eating demon.
However, the scene he imagined didn't unfold. Seeing Yang Haoran's stubborn resolve to protect the snake demon, the slovenly man asked nothing at all. Instead, he coolly uttered a few words, then pointed his longsword directly at Yang Haoran.
Pointing a longsword at someone is often considered a provocation. Now, with the slovenly man's longsword aimed at Yang Haoran, it was a direct challenge, a gauntlet thrown.
Not attacking immediately was his final warning and reminder to Yang Haoran. If Yang Haoran simply nodded in agreement, he would launch his assault at once.
Of course, even if Yang Haoran disagreed, he would still attack him; he wouldn't cease simply because Yang Haoran refused, unless Yang Haoran changed his mind.
Yang Haoran, naturally, wouldn't change his mind. Since he had returned to the Ancient Tomb, he had no intention of remaining uninvolved.
However, he hadn't planned to act immediately either. It wasn't out of fear of the slovenly man before him, but because he needed to give the Soul Pill within him some time to take effect.
The longer he could drag it out, the more advantageous it would be for him. Conversely, if he were to attack the slovenly man immediately, he would be at a significant disadvantage, possibly even risking death.
Yang Haoran's expression remained impassive, but his mind raced.
"There's nothing to ask. My objective is to kill her; yours is to protect her. Our positions are different. If you can defeat me, you can take her. If you cannot, then she must die."
As his words faded, the slovenly man gave Yang Haoran no more time to breathe. With a swing of his longsword—
An arc of green sword energy burst forth, sweeping across the ground with a sharp, murderous intent, cutting directly towards Yang Haoran.
Where it passed, a deep gash was left in the ground.
Yang Haoran's brows twitched. He had intended to stall for more time, but the slovenly man gave him no such opportunity.
A feeling of helplessness welled up inside him, but his hands were far from slow. With a flick of his finger, the half-smoked cigarette between his grasp, enveloped in a surge of Spirit Power, shot forward like a bullet, meeting the slovenly man's green sword energy head-on.
The sword energy and the cigarette butt collided. The black and green energies refused to yield, and a massive explosion followed in an instant. The cigarette butt turned to dust, and the sword energy was shattered by the Spirit Power.
In their first clash, the two appeared evenly matched, but Yang Haoran secretly grumbled to himself.
Though his movements seemed conceited, that was actually his full power without resorting to his Soul Armament. The slovenly man, on the other hand, didn't seem to have used his full strength.
When his strike failed to inflict any damage on Yang Haoran, the slovenly man let out a cold snort, then spoke: "Unleash your full power. Let me see what you're truly capable of."
Before his voice faded, the slovenly man swiftly swung his longsword. With each swing, a wailing arc of sword energy shot forth, all aimed at Yang Haoran opposite him.
The smile on Yang Haoran's face faded slightly. Facing such a situation, he certainly wouldn't be arrogant enough to try and block the opponent's sword energy with his bare hands.
He summoned his Soul Armament, Remnant Moon, and once again clashed with the incoming sword energy.
The sword energy was fast, and Remnant Moon was equally swift. Black and green lights clashed incessantly, creating deafening roars that made the Ancient Tomb tremble.
This Ancient Tomb, whose age was unknown, had already suffered one round of devastation tonight. Now, with Yang Haoran locked in combat with the slovenly man, inflicting further damage, it seemed poised to collapse.
Yet, neither of the two men nor the demon present cared whether the Ancient Tomb would collapse.
In just a short while, Yang Haoran and the slovenly man had exchanged dozens of blows. Yang Haoran's body now bore several sword wounds, and the slovenly man's body likewise had several gashes from Remnant Moon.
After another fierce collision, Yang Haoran stumbled back several steps. When he stabilized himself, fresh blood was already seeping from beneath his sleeve.
The blood flowed down his wrist, pooled in his palm, and finally dripped from his fingertips.
The slovenly man, meanwhile, held his longsword with a slight tremor in his hand, blood smudged at the corner of his mouth, and his trench coat was tattered and stained with crimson.
However, in comparison, the slovenly man's condition was noticeably better than Yang Haoran's at this moment; this was evident from the power fluctuations emanating from both of them.
"If we continue fighting like this, I'll, at most, be severely injured, but you might die by my hand. Step aside. Why risk your life for a mere demon? Demons are skilled at disguise; as an Underworld Official, how could your mind be led astray by one? " the slovenly man said, his face grim, to Yang Haoran.
The slovenly man actually didn't want to waste words on Yang Haoran, but he had no choice but to warn him again. The reason was simple: Yang Haoran's identity.
Yang Haoran was an Underworld Official, the Emissary of Death for Lecheng's Underworld Office, and the top authority there. If he truly killed Yang Haoran, things would become very troublesome.
Yang Haoran protecting the snake demon was one thing, but if he killed Yang Haoran, that would be entirely different. At that point, the Underworld Office would undoubtedly investigate, bringing him immense trouble.
In this world, there were countless capable individuals, various organizations, and numerous sects.
However, apart from Spirit Mediums, few were willing to offend the Underworld Office. Openly confronting the Underworld Office was even rarer, unless absolutely forced.
The slovenly man didn't want to invite unnecessary trouble, which was why he was warning Yang Haoran again. But if Yang Haoran ignored his warning once more, he would have no choice but to strike with lethal force.
Yang Haoran's face was a little pale, but he didn't fly into a rage because of his severe injuries. Instead, his characteristic gentle smile returned to his face.
"As I just said," Yang Haoran said with a chuckle, "I cannot yield this step."
Yang Haoran's reply made the slovenly man's brows knit tightly. Subconsciously, he tightened his grip on his longsword.
It was then that the snake demon, Bai Xue, finally spoke.
"Brother Underworld Official, please go," the snake demon said weakly, her voice strained. "Don't bother with me. He wants to kill me, there's no need for you to risk your life for me."
The snake demon had indeed placed her hopes of survival on Yang Haoran before, believing he could save her life. So when Yang Haoran returned, she was overjoyed, and hope reignited within her heart.
Yet now, with Yang Haoran clashing with the slovenly man, Yang Haoran was clearly at a disadvantage. If the fight continued like this, she believed the outcome would undoubtedly be as the slovenly man predicted: Yang Haoran would die by his hand.
She wanted to live, but she didn't want Yang Haoran to sacrifice his life for her. That was why she now spoke, urging Yang Haoran to leave.
Because the slovenly man's target was her, not Yang Haoran. As long as Yang Haoran no longer interfered, the slovenly man wouldn't attack him again.
That way, Yang Haoran's life, at least, would be spared.
However, Yang Haoran's reply greatly surprised the snake demon.
Yang Haoran shifted his gaze from the slovenly man to her, saying with a smile, "For you to say something like that at a time like this, it's very easy for people to misunderstand and think you're being a 'green tea bitch'. So, don't try to persuade me. Since I've decided to interfere, I've naturally considered every aspect, including death."
The snake demon froze, truly not expecting Yang Haoran to say something so utterly baffling and comical in such a situation.
Before she spoke to persuade Yang Haoran to leave, two possible outcomes flashed through her mind.
The first outcome was that Yang Haoran would utter some impassioned words, bravely declaring he feared no death, then resolve to stay and fight the slovenly man to the bitter end.
If Yang Haoran did that, she would naturally be deeply moved, but it wasn't the outcome she wanted to see, because she genuinely didn't want Yang Haoran to lose his life saving her.
The second outcome was that Yang Haoran, facing death, would compromise and cease to interfere.
She wouldn't find it strange if Yang Haoran made such a choice, because she understood his reasoning. After all, in the face of death, many things seemed utterly worthless, including emotions.
Moreover, there wasn't much genuine affection between her and Yang Haoran to begin with. They had only known each other for a few days, and their interactions had merely been to complete a transaction.
Strictly speaking, they weren't even friends; at best, they were only slightly better than strangers. So, it was entirely reasonable that Yang Haoran wouldn't risk his life for her.
However, Yang Haoran's current reply was vastly different from what she had expected, leaving her completely stunned on the spot.
But then, the snake demon Bai Xue recovered. With tears in her eyes, she smiled faintly and responded weakly, "Alright. If you die, I'll join you."
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